Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw has admitted they do not want to be playing in the Europa League long-term.

Shaw and everyone else at United are aware of the club's ambition to be in the Champions League every year.

However, United finished sixth last term, and must now beat Real Sociedad in their final Europa League group stage game to push into the knockout stages proper.

"Yeah, I do believe that," he replied when asked by club media if the higher standard of the competition (Champions League third-placed teams entering) will help United improve. "

“Of course first and foremost we don't want to be in the Europa League we want to be in the Champions League.

"But I think you look at the Champions League teams that as well that are maybe dropping out it would obviously grow a bit, a bit of a step up when they drop in so I think that's good for us, you want to be playing against the best teams and, of course, we are in the competition.

“It's a competition that we have to look at that we need to win."